Valkyries parade rolls through San Francisco waterfront

The Golden State Valkyries celebrated their first WNBA championship with a parade along the San Francisco waterfront on Wednesday.

The team defeated the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the Finals on Saturday. The victory marks the franchise's first title since its inception. Coach Natalie Nakase joined players on a double-decker bus, signing autographs and interacting with the crowd.

The franchise began play in 2025. Bay Area rapper P-Lo served as a founding member of the Valkyries Collective, a group established in May 2025 to connect the team with local culture. The team entered the playoffs with a 19-8 record, the second-best in the league behind the Minnesota Lynx. They were not ranked among the top five title contenders by the ESPN Basketball Power Index in late July. The team won its fourth championship of the season for center Kiah Stokes, who previously won three titles with the Las Vegas Aces.

The parade route began at the Ferry Building and moved toward Mission Bay. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie opened the event by declaring the city the global capital of women's sports. Local figures including Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Lateefah Simon, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis were present. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and singer Kehlani also attended. Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence, who won World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014, was seen at the event.

Employees at office buildings along the Embarcadero, including Google at Hills Plaza, watched from windows and rooftops. Students from UC Berkeley and Vallejo schools skipped classes to attend. Two fans wore matching hot dog costumes, referencing a Game 7 outfit by Kaitlyn Chen. The team traveled from Oakland to the parade site by boat.

Over the next three months, three new women's sports teams will begin play in the Bay Area. PWHL San Jose will launch at SAP Center. The San Francisco Signal will debut at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The NorCal Rumble will start at Tech CU Arena in San Jose.

Joe Lacob, owner of both the Warriors and the Valkyries, has attended five championship parades in the last 11 years. The Valkyries' celebration is the eighth major sports parade in the Bay Area in 16 years. Previous parades included the 49ers' Super Bowl victories and the A's World Series wins in the 1970s.